DEBATE
The Swedish Transport Agency must immediately get more resources to speed up its processes. We cannot let them become a brake on investments in solar cell installations at airports, writes Anna Werner, CEO of Svensk Solenergi.
This is a discussion article. The opinions expressed are the writer’s own.
In the future, aviation will increasingly run on electricity or hydrogen. The big players agree on that, just look at the letter of intent between Airbus, SAS, Swedavia, Vattenfall and Avinor that was signed earlier this year. Together, they will work to develop hydrogen aviation in Sweden and Norway with the goal of having larger commercial hydrogen aircraft as early as 2035.
And this week Region Gotland signed a cooperation agreement with no less than two Nordic electric aircraft manufacturers. One is Norwegian Elfly, which builds electric seaplanes. The other is the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace, which took in over 1 billion in its latest investment round to complete its ES-30 electric hybrid plane, intended to take off in 2028.
Solar cells are perfect for providing electricity to charge batteries or produce hydrogen where the need is greatest.
Regardless of whether you choose batteries, hydrogen or hybrid operation for the flights of the future, there will be a great need for electricity at the country’s airports. Solar cells are perfect for providing electricity to charge batteries or produce hydrogen where the need is greatest.
Ground-based solar power only requires a connection to the electricity grid and a suitable land area. The ground should preferably be as smooth as possible so that the facility can be built in a cost-effective manner. The CEO of Sweden’s regional airports, Peter Larsson, recently gave a talk on the airports of the future. He talked about electric flights, hydrogen production at airports and the future need for electricity at airports around Sweden. With large, flat land areas already exploited, airports are particularly well-suited to producing local, renewable electricity for aviation.
Unfortunately, the development of solar power at Sweden’s airports risks being stopped, even when there is both permission from the county administrative board and electricity grid connection.
After dialogue with the majority of developers, a clear picture emerges. Installing solar cells in connection with or on an airport area involves the approval of additional authorities, which means longer lead times and a more uncertain outcome. For example, the Swedish Transport Agency’s approval can take several years and there is no upper limit to how long a case can be processed.
Right now, there are many investors who are interested in investing in large-scale land-based solar parks, but investment and capital have timetables to follow.
If the Swedish authorities do not dare to show the way with clear investments and plans in the short and long term, there is a significant risk that all these billions will be invested in other countries. The synergies between the airports’ future electricity needs, existing electricity connection and available land risk being lost, as well as aviation’s opportunities for electrification.
Sweden is not the first to address the issue of solar power at airports. No, the majority of European airports with regulations similar to Sweden’s have completed projects and projects under development, so the question of whether it is possible with solar power at airports does not need to be investigated, it has already been answered.
Some European airports with solar cells
- Belfast Airport, UK – 5 MW – 2016
- Faro Airport, Portugal – 3 MW – 2022
- Belgrade Airport, Serbien – 1 MW – 2022
- Athens International Airport, Grekland – 24 MW – 2011
- Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam), Netherlands – 15 MW – 2018
- Groningen Airport Eelde, Netherlands – 22 MW – 2020
- Vienna International Airport, Austria – 24 MW – 2022
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Netherlands – 13.6 MW – 2022
- Bergerac Airport, Frankrike – 14,7 MW – 2021
- Deauville-Normandie Airport, France – 60 MW – 2024
- Lyon Airport, France – 20 MW – 2024
In the past, there has also been concern that solar cells will interfere with radio waves due to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues. But those problems only occur when non-approved components are used and if cabling is installed in violation of the installation rules. With the right materials and correct installation, it is perfectly possible to build solar parks at airports without risking flight safety. There are therefore lots of airports with solar cells around the world.
The space, possibilities for connection and the need for solar cell installations in connection with the flight thus already exist. Now the Swedish Transport Agency must immediately get more resources so that they can speed up their processes and not become the brake block for investments in solar cell installations at airports. Swedish airports must be allowed to develop for future electric flights.
Anna WernerCEO of Swedish Solar Energy
Source: www.nyteknik.se
